Patent Application
20180209165
This invention relates to the class of stoves and furnaces and the sub-classification for field stoves. Specifically, this invention relates to a portable wind barrier for use with a field stove.
A field stove or furnace is one that has the fire built on the ground or in an earthen pit. Sometimes this is referred to as a bottomless stove, since the fire is being built upon the ground. There are many different recreational uses for a field stove, such as cooking while camping, cooking at the beach, or while preparing deep-fried food such as turkeys.
Additionally, in many surroundings, people use fires for warmth while outdoors. Fires at the beach or while camping are both common.
The problem with either a field stove or a warming fire is that the wind can blow out the fire, or misdirect the flames. Wind can make it nearly impossible to start and kindle an outdoor fire. Additionally, when using a field stove, the wind can significantly affect the efficiency and effectiveness of such a fire, by causing the flame to be misdirected. In other words, the wind blows the flame in such a way that the flame is no longer effectively providing heat to the items being cooked.
In order to improve the field stove experience, a solution to the wind problem is needed. Since the wind can shift directions, the solution should be capable of encircling the fire. However, the solution should allow the user to set the invention around less than the complete fire, to allow the user to access the fire. Additionally, when used with a camp or beach fire, the invention should allow a wind-break while still allowing warming access to the fire. Last, such a solution has to be portable and easily transported.
This summary is intended to disclose the present invention, a portable wind barrier for a field stove. The embodiments and descriptions are used to illustrate the invention and its utility, and are not intended to limit the invention or its use.
The portable wind barrier for a field stove prevents the wind from unduly blowing or interfering with the fire. The portable wind barrier for a field stove is positioned about the fire, enclosing the fire. The portable wind barrier weighs a maximum of 20 lbs. The portable wind barrier has a maximum height of 2.5 ft and a maximum length of 10 ft.
The portable wind barrier for a field stove is comprised of a plurality of interconnected panels fabricated from a temperature resistant, strong material, such as steel, aluminum, or a laminar, heat-resistant material. The preferred shape for the panels is rectangular, with all the interconnected panels being of identical size. The interconnected panels have a substantially planar surface with two long edges and two short edges. The aspect ratio is the ratio of the long edge to the short edge. The interconnected panels are connected to one another along the long edges of the panels using hinges. The preferred hinges are continuous, or piano, hinges that run the entire length of the interconnected panel. A continuous hinge allows the interconnected panels to be folded together for transport.
The portable wind barrier for a field stove has two end interconnected panels. Each end interconnected panel has a free edge. The two free edges can be connected to one another using a simple temporary connector, including, but not limited to, a hasp, latch, or rod and cylinder.
There should be at least three (3) interconnected panels to encircle a fire. From a practical standpoint, six (6) to eight ((8) interconnected panels are ideal, as it minimizes the wind that is normal to the face of the panels, and allows the portable wind barrier for a field stove to be positioned and contoured around the fire.
The maximum height of the portable wind barrier for a field stove is the length of the long edge of the interconnected panels. The maximum length of the portable wind barrier for a field stove is the length of the short edge of the interconnected panels multiplied by the number of interconnected panels.
A functional image is pressed or formed into the planar surface of each interconnected panel. The functional image provides both decoration and structural rigidity to the interconnected panels. By making the functional image out of a series of grooves, bumps and bend, the functional image will stiffen the panels. The imprinted sides of the functional image can be aligned so that, when folded, the functional images nest, reducing the overall package side of the portable wind barrier for a field stove during transport. This allows the overall package dimension of the folded portable wind barrier for a field stove to be minimized.
The most common material for the interconnected panels is steel. Galvanized steel (zinc coating), aluminum-coated sheet steel (hot dip process), or stainless steel are the most appropriate selections. As with any portable device made with steel, weight can quickly become an issue with the portable wind barrier for a field stove. Realistically, the interconnected panels are fabricated from something between 20 gauge steel (0.0359″ for sheet steel, 0.040″ for galvanized steel, and 0.0375″ for stainless steel) and 30 gauge steel (0.012″ for sheet steel, 0.016″ for galvanized steel, and 0.0125″ for stainless steel). This means that, at a maximum (20 gauge galvanized steel), the portable wind barrier for a field stove weighs 1.656 lbs/sq. ft. At a minimum (30 gauge stainless steel), the portable wind barrier for a field stove weighs approximately 0.5 lbs/sq. ft.
To be practical, the portable wind barrier for a field stove should be at least 1.5 ft (approximately 460 mm) tall, and at least 4 ft (approximately 1.2 m) long. The length would be the short edge length of each interconnected panel multiplied by the number of panels. At maximum, the portable wind barrier for a field stove should be approximately 3.0 ft, (approximately 910 mm) tall by 10 ft. (approximately 3.0 m) long. This means that the portable wind barrier for a field stove will be between 6 sq. ft. (“small”) and 30 sq. ft. (“large”) in area.
In order for the portable wind barrier for a field stove to be easily transported and moved, it needs to be a weight that is manageable for most people. A gallon of water weighs approximately 8.3 lbs. A twelve pack of beer in cans weighs about 9.8 lbs. An adult should be able to easily transport and wield something that weighs between 10 lbs. and 20 lbs. To bracket the dimensions of the portable wind barrier for a field stove, 10 lbs. of galvanized 20 gauge sheet steel is approximately 6.0 sq. ft., and 20 lbs of stainless 30 gauge sheet steel is approximately 40 sq. ft.
This means that a small portable wind barrier for a field stove can be made out of 20 gauge galvanized steel. However, a large portable wind barrier for a field stove should be made out of 30 gauge galvanized or stainless sheet steel.
The present invention clearly can be made in several embodiments by varying the number of panels, the aspect ratio of the panels, and the overall size of the panels.
The present invention is illustrated with 8 drawings on 5 sheets.
The following descriptions are not meant to limit the invention, but rather to add to the summary of invention, and illustrate the present invention, a portable wind barrier for a field stove. While embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described, the embodiments herein do not represent all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the descriptions, illustrations, and embodiments are intended to teach and inform without limiting the scope of the invention.
Each interconnected panel 2 has a top edge 8, a bottom edge 4 and two vertical edges 6. There are two free edges 5, 10 on the end interconnected panels. The interconnected panels 2 are attached with a plurality of hinges 9. There is one less hinge 9 than interconnected panels 2. The interconnected panels 2 have a substantially planar surface 7 with a functional image 3. The interconnected panels 2 can be positioned in relationship to one another, creating an enclosed surface, using the hinges 9.
A cooking vessel 34 is placed on a fire 41 rack 40. A variety of food, such as lobster 30, fish 31, chicken 32, or other food, can be cooked over the fire 41. The vessel 34 has an interior 33 and an exterior 37. The interior 33 can be filled with water. Typically, the vessel 34 is a large boiling pot 34 with handles 35. Additionally, food can be grilled directly on a rack 40 or grill. The hinges 9 allows the interconnect panel 2 configuration to be contoured to fit the needs of the particular fire 41
The interconnected panels 2 are fabricated from a material that is impervious to the temperatures generated by a field stove, such as steel. Galvanized steel (zinc coating), aluminum-coated sheet steel (hot dip process), or stainless (chromium) steel are the most appropriate materials. As with any portable device made with steel, weight can quickly become an issue with the portable wind barrier for a field stove 1. Realistically, the interconnected panels are fabricated from something between 20 gauge steel (0.0359″ for sheet steel, 0.040″ for galvanized steel, and 0.0375″ for stainless steel) and 30 gauge steel (0.012″ for sheet steel, 0.016″ for galvanized steel, and 0.0125″ for stainless steel). This means that, at a maximum (20 gauge galvanized steel), the portable wind barrier for a field stove 1 weighs 1.656 lbs/sq. ft. At a minimum (30 gauge stainless steel), the portable wind barrier for a field stove 1 weighs approximately 0.5 lbs/sq. ft.
To be practical, the portable wind barrier for a field stove 1 should be at least 1.5 ft (approximately 460 mm) tall 6, and at least 4 ft (approximately 1.2 m) long. The length would be the edge length 8, 4 of each interconnected panel 2 multiplied by the number of panels. At maximum, the portable wind barrier for a field stove 1 should be approximately 3.0 ft, (approximately 910 mm) tall 6 by 10 ft. (approximately 3.0 m) long. This means that the portable wind barrier for a field stove will be between 6 sq. ft. (“small”) and 30 sq. ft. (“large”) in area.
In order for the portable wind barrier for a field stove to be easily transported and moved, it needs to be a weight that is manageable for most people. A gallon of water weighs approximately 8.3 lbs. A twelve pack of beer in cans weighs about 9.8 lbs. An adult should be able to easily transport and wield something that weighs between 10 lbs. and 20 lbs. To bracket the dimensions of the portable wind barrier for a field stove 1, 10 lbs. of galvanized 20 gauge sheet steel is approximately 6.0 sq. ft., and 20 lbs of stainless 30 gauge sheet steel is approximately 40 sq. ft.
This means that a small portable wind barrier for a field stove 1 can be made out of 20 gauge galvanized steel. However, a large portable wind barrier for a field stove 1 should be made out of 30 gauge galvanized or stainless steel.
A certain amount of structural rigidity is created by using a larger number of interconnected panels 2. Additional structural rigidity is created by stamping or pressing the functional image 3 into the interconnected panels 2. It is well known in the sheet metal art that changing the profile of sheet steel will add significant stiffness, whether by making a groove, bump, or bend. In other words, the functional image 3 is pressed or stamped into the planar surface of each interconnected panel 2 in such a way that the functional image 3 is no longer co-planar with the rest of the planar surface 7. The functional image 3 is essentially a combination of grooves and bumps. By using images with aspect ratios that match that of the interconnected panels 2 such as a fish 3, the overall interconnected panel 2 achieves significant stiffness.
